Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to start Portugal’s match against USA despite hobbling out of training this week. The world player of the year has not been able to shake off the lingering injury since coming to Brazil, but he trained normally on Saturday and will play in the crucial game. “He trains every day with all of us, so Cristiano is fit to play,” the midfielder Raul Meireles said on Saturday. “That’s all I can say.”

Ronaldo took the field with the rest of his team-mates and did several running drills, not appearing to be affected by the injury. He did, however, again have some strapping below his left knee.

Portugal lost their opening match to Germany 4-0 and another loss will mean elimination from the World Cup. The Americans, however, won their opening game and can secure a spot in the second round with another victory.

“He’s strong physically and he’s a fast runner,” the USA goalkeeper Tim Howard said of Ronaldo. “He’s the best in the world with the ball at his feet. That’s why he’s the best player in the world. We’re going to do our best to bottle him up.”

Ronaldo played in the loss to Germany but he has since been seen at training with a brace on the knee. Portugal are already under-strength; the defender Fabio Coentrao, Ronaldo’s team-mate at Real Madrid, and striker Hugo Almeida have been ruled out with injuries while Pepe is suspended.

But the coach, Paulo Bento, said he is not putting any pressure on his star player. “In October 2010 I told him once and that’s it, I would never put on his shoulders, or anybody else, the responsibility to solve the problems,” Bento said. “The only person that has one individual responsibility is me.”

TV ratings for soccer are up, fans are packing the bars, and Jürgen Klinsmann's team is on the verge of qualification from Group G. Is the US finally ready to embrace the global game? Tom Dart reports from Houston